Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2009, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (4): 421-425.

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Synthesis of Stable Silver Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Activities in Room-temperature Ionic Liquids

AN Jing1,2, WANG De-song2 and YUAN Xiao-yan1*   

  1. 1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Composite Materials, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China;
    2. College of Sciences, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050018, P. R. China
  • Received:2008-08-04 Revised:2008-10-16 Online:2009-07-25 Published:2009-10-16
  • Contact: YUAN Xiao-yan. E-mail: yuanxy@tju.edu.cn

Abstract:

Stable silver nanoparticles was successfully synthesized by chemical reduction of silver nitrate in an ionic liquid, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([BMIM]?BF4) at room temperature. Results of UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy show as-prepared Ag nanoparticles exhibit a typical emission peak at 400―430 nm. By varying the reaction temperature and the precursor concentration, the size and the shape of the silver nanoparticles could be easily controlled under mild conditions. Analyses of transmission electron micrographs, X-ray diffraction pattern and X-ray photoelectron spectrum further reveal that the silver nanoparticles were coated incompletely by [BMIM]?BF4. Microbial experiments indicate that as-prepared silver nanoparticles show a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities and have better antimicrobial activities to Pseudomonas aeruginosa than silver nitrate with the same concentration of silver.